Oh, happy days! It's time for my doctor's appointment. Most of us dread going, myself included, but reluctantly go. True, we're told that "old doc" has seen it all---been there, done that, but still it's hard, we tell ourselves, to make that and keep that appointment without some pain and anxiety.

So, we pull ourselves together, get dressed, take our pills, think happy thoughts and arrive at our destination. We walk through the front door to the doctor's office and who do we see? You guessed it! Miss Perfect! Miss "I'll meander over to the "sickies" but I'm not going to strain myself," Wonderful. Then we turn to take our seat in the waiting room, only to find TV's blaring, children running amuck and some patients hiding behind old, boring magazines. I once went to the doctors for a colon problem and found on his waiting room walls, nothing but pictures of outhouses. The pictures were in all sizes, shapes, locations and colors. It was disturbing but funny. I've often wondered since then what was he thinking when he hung those droll pictures on the wall?

Anyway, I digress. In a doctor's office one can look around and see different variations of dress and behavior that look bizarre and strange. On one trip to my doctor I saw a lady who was dressed to the "nines" with matching shoes, purse and a beautiful conservative outfit. Close to her sat a man dressed in a business suit and ruminating nervously with an executive pen. Another woman sat dressed in a skin-tight blouse and pants, with her naval showing, with a ring, of course. Another woman, somewhat older, in her 40's was dressed carelessly in a brown and gray blouse with gray pants-the outfit too loose, hair dangling, as if she just got out of bed and haphazardly threw on her clothes. Then I saw an older gentleman who had on an old, unkempt shirt and baggy pants. He looked nervously every other minute toward the entrance to the patient's door. All of the above were at the doctor's office, waiting for help. I ask you, whom do you think will get the best treatment?

As a woman over 50, with years of being a patient in both military and civilian settings, I can offer some help and insight as to who I think might get the best help and timely assistance from medical professionals.

Cleanliness, good grooming, a positive attitude, a calm demeanor behavior, knowledge of the healthcare field and how to interact with medical professionals are vital in the 21st century in obtaining good healthcare. Of course, it doesn't hurt to know by name the nurses and receptionists. Everyone loves to hear his or her name.

In 1990 my husband and I were overseas serving time in the military. While at a military hospital getting O.B.G.Y.N. service, I saw a patient walk by my room, dressed in medical garb, with knee-highs on up to her knee. Maybe it was all right, maybe the doctor didn't care, maybe nobody cared. All I know is that it looked unkempt, careless and goofy. I vowed then to never wear knee-highs that showed, especially when wearing a hospital gown. Call me nuts, call me square, but you won't see me with knee-highs showing! Another incident I recall was watching a somewhat overweight gentleman enter the reception room with his jeans hanging way below his waist. When he sat down, the mystery was over! Don't you hate it when a mystery is revealed ahead of its time?

Another time I watched a young man walk into the reception area, with dirt on his clothes and body. Needless to say that boy could sit wherever he wanted---preferably away from me! You know where this boy sat don't you? Right next to me! I held my breath for as long as I could and then I had to exhale. That next inhale almost did me in!

While in the patient's room I've often heard through the walls communication between patient and doctor. It doesn't take a genius to understand that often it is the careless, rude and uninformed patient that gets mediocre care. Often I have heard the patient respond laughingly to serious questions from the doctor, while others sit like a Buddha and pretend that they are in la-la land. You see, if the doctor senses that you don't care about your health and his or her professional services, then the doctor will give you back the same treatment---shoddy, careless and unprofessional.

Not to sound like Mother Teresa but good grooming, proper manners and a positive attitude can do much to make that next doctor's appointment a success. So zip up that dress, put a belt buckle on those jeans, take a shower, put on a smile, read a couple of healthcare pamphlets and lock up those knee-highs! It's time to shine! Make that doctor work for his money and the results will be a healthier you!

Copyright 2007 Toni Star